Parker: City will cut its greenhouse gas emissions another 10 percent

Houston City Hall will expand its fleet of alternative energy cars, better monitor its energy usage and buy more power from renewable sources as part of Mayor Annise Parker's promise to further cut the greenhouse gas emissions from city operations.

Parker, during a panel discussion Wednesday at the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group in South Africa, pledged to cut emissions another 10 percent in the next two years.

Since 2007, the city has reduced its greenhouse gas emissions 26 percent.

"I believe we're having an effect on global climate change," Parker said. "However, I have been very careful as mayor to prioritize the things we do to reduce our greenhouse gas in ways that also are important for the city's bottom line."

For example, the mayor said, switching from incandescent lamps to LED bulbs in the more than 2,450 traffic signals across Houston saves the city about $3.6 million a year. The next step, she said, may be to make the same switch with streetlights.

The push for city operations to be more environmentally conscious, started by Parker's predecessor, Bill White, has helped Houston climb national energy efficiency rankings. Although other area government agencies have made changes to reduce auto emissions or electricity usage, the city tracks its energy usage, measures its carbon footprint and sets reduction goals and deadlines.

'We must not stop'

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Houston ranks first among U.S. cities for its purchases of "green" electrical energy and ranks third for the size of its hybrid car fleet, according to the mayor's office.

"Our achievement is impressive," the mayor said, "but we must not stop there."

Parker promised to retro­fit more city buildings for energy efficiency, buy more power from renewable sources, optimize energy usage via monitoring, expand the city's fleet of alternative energy cars and expand recycling services to households citywide.

If the City Council approves this month, Houston could be the first Texas city to use federal conservation bonds to upgrade the efficiency of dozens of libraries. Energy savings will repay the low-cost loans within five years, said Laura Spanjian, the city's sustainability director.

"They're actually paying us to borrow this money," Spanjian said.

Although the city's curbside recycling is not considered in the goal to reduce emissions, Parker touted her plan to offer the 96-gallon bins to every home with city service before she leaves office at the end of 2015.

In the last six months, more than 100,000 homes were added to the single stream service, where trash and recyclables are placed in one wheeled bin. About 40,000 households still must separate recyclable items into 18-gallon buckets, and 129,000 do not have any curbside service.

Another 60,000 single-stream bins will be rolled out to homes by late May, said Sandra Jackson, spokeswoman for the Department of Solid Waste Management.

Praise, and challenge

David Crossley, president of the nonprofit advocacy group Houston Tomorrow, lauded the mayor's successes to date and her promise to do more.

"This is enormously important," he said. "It's wonderful to see her taking a leadership role in reducing the danger of global climate change."

Tim Mock, co-chair of the Houston Climate Protection Alliance, took a more critical stance. He challenged municipal leaders to speak more directly about the dangers of unchecked Arctic melt and climate change.

"Compared to other cities, Houston is doing very well," he said. "But compared to what is needed to avoid planetary climate disaster, it's a drop in the bucket."